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Frustrated with Apple's refusal to allow the app on its platform, Sharma said the company's actions are anti-consumer, arguing they strip Apple users of their freedom to decide what to do with their data, and leave them vulnerable to unwanted calls and texts. Sharma told a leading daily that while Android supports the DND app, Apple has been merely discussing and not acting on it.

The app allows users to share details of pesky calls and spam messages with authorities and mobile service providers, who would then take action on the caller or sender. Sharma said, adding, "This is what we call data colonization".

A person familiar with Apple's policies and protocols said TRAI's DND app does not measure up to the smart phone maker's privacy security protocols and that the regulator needed to make sure the app conforms to them for it to be listed on its App Store. A detailed questionnaire sent by TOI to Apple over the matter remained unanswered.

According to him, Apple has been having discussions with TRAI on this matter but the company is yet to reach a point.

Sharma said the consultation paper kick-starting the consultation process could be issued within this week. "They are anti-consumer and they are really not caring for their customers who could have been saved from pesky calls and unwanted messages". "While data privacy and data security are very important issues, there is also a fundamental issue about data owner ship over here".

"Right now it seems unclear under which provision can they undertake this exercise", Apar Gupta, a Supreme Court lawyer working on data privacy issues, said.

"It is my data". "It is not Apple's data, it is not the data of a telephone manufacturer", Sharma said. How can you take away my right over my own data? "My call logs or my SMS data cannot be the data of the device manufacturer", he said. "Why can't you do the same thing with TRAI?"- Apps For Pcdaily